Wire wrapped spiral lava stone pendant necklaces

For the past few weeks, I've been playing around with a different sort of wire wrapped lava stone pendant. I've made plenty of these necklaces in the past, but I've been using two different colors of wire and have been twisting them into more complex spiral designs:

For each one, I'm using the same basic pattern: two types of wire, which I twist into spirals and swirls. However, each design is unique, as you can see. Some look like ocean waves; others look more floral... it's amazing what can be made with a simple spiral! It reminds me a bit of this toy I had as a kid called Spirograph. Do you remember this? Basically, you'd use stencils and spin them to create circular patterns. The end result was always different from the last. I loved that toy!

So far, I'm finding that it's easier to work with regular metal wire (copper, silver, etc.). The color-plated wire is stiff and isn't as easy to bend. I've solved that problem by laying down the color wire first and then adding the silver or brass, or whatever. It's just much easier to do the top wrap with regular wire -- though I do like that stone with the two different blues. Maybe I just need more practice!

Check out my wire wrapped and enamel jewellery at Naomi's Designs or MayaGirl Creations. Check out my novel, REVENGE OF A BAND GEEK GONE BAD, on Amazon.

Wire wrapped lava stone pendant with blue and turquoise spirals

It was a slow summer for my jewelry projects, but for the past few days I've been really productive! I'm still working on my Christmas ornaments, plus I've made about a dozen new earrings and necklaces. One of my favorites is this blue and turquoise wire wrapped lava stone pendant:

I don't like working with color-plated wire as much as I like working with plain silver, copper or brass. Colorful wire looks really pretty, but it's a bit more difficult to maneuver -- and it isn't as easy to twist into spirals. Still, it looks nice and I do enjoy making pieces with it. If you've read any of this blog, you know how much I love blue and this necklace is no exception. I didn't add too much wire, but I like the combination of the light and dark shades.

When I used to make these wire wrapped pieces, my designs were pretty random. I'd twist the wire around and just see how it would turn out. I've had a lot of practice by this point, though, so my wire wrap designs are much more deliberate. What's funny is that I've gotten some orders for older pieces and it was now difficult for me to recreate that "random" look.

I have a craft fair in a few weeks and the lava stone pendants are usually well-received. I hope people like this one, too!

Check out the rest of my wire wrapped and enamel jewellery at Naomi's Designs or MayaGirl Creations on Etsy.

Wire wrapped lava pendant with brass and copper spirals

It's been a while since I've made one of my favorite types of wire wrapped jewelry: the classic wire wrapped lava pendant. This one was made with brass and copper wire, which I twisted into a series of spirals.

The challenge in making this was layering the wires. I usually use only one type of wire; I then loop the end to make the bail (the part where you thread a cord or chain so the pendant will hang) and create the rest of the design using that one piece. This makes it easy for everything to stay in place since the entire wire is attached.

In this case, I layered the brass wire over the copper. The hole was too small to make a double bail so I wrapped the wire around the loop at the top and then made the design. I was a bit worried that the wire would fall off or come loose, but I secured it tightly enough that it stayed in place. I even took it for a little "test drive" when I went to class the other day and my teacher noticed it.

Right now, I'm trying to make another lava stone necklace using blue and turquoise wire, but the color wire has a different texture from the plain metals. Because they are anodized, the color wire is a bit tougher and not as easy to maneuver. I tried to do a spiral design this morning but am not happy with the result. Oh well, time to try again!

Meantime, please check out the rest of my handmade wire wrapped and enamel jewellery at Naomi's Designs and MayaGirl Creations.

Photo Gallery: Wire wrapped lava stone pendants

When I began making jewelry in 2010, one of the first things I made were some silver wire wrapped lava stone necklaces. I made them for my mom and some friends and these wire wrapped necklaces were pretty crude. For my friend's necklace, I basically wrapped the wire around the lava in no real pattern so that it just looked like a blob of silver with a couple of crystals stuck in for good measure. For my mom's, I couldn't figure out how to attach things like beads, so I glued them on. Both liked my gifts because they, well, were from me, but really, my pieces were not my best.

I've had a lot of practice making these and have (thankfully) gotten better over the years. Here are a few of my favorite wire wrapped lava necklaces. You can find them all, as well as my other types of jewellery at Naomi's Designs or MayaGirl Creations.

More wire wrapped lava stone pendants with pink and blue wire and Swarovski crystals

Much as I like to experiment with new jewelry designs, there are some "classics" that I always return to -- such as my wire wrapped lava stone pendants with Swarovski crystals.

I've made dozens of these necklaces for friends and craft fairs and I never tire of putting them together. The wire has a life of its own and I never quite know what the end result is going to be. It's fun to bend and twist and swirl the wire; it reminds me a bit of that drawing game I had as a kid called Spirograph. You'd use stencils to swirl different colors together and though you had some idea of what your pattern would look like, you never knew for sure.

Lately I've been making these lava pendants with different colored wire. So far, I like the way blues and pinks look the best. Purple gets a bit drowned out by the black. I haven't yet used yellow, but I think that would look pretty good, too. I attempted to combine a bunch of different colors in one piece ... but it ended up looking as if a clown threw up on the lava. Sometimes it's better to keep things simple!

I've wire wrapped many different types of stones, but I like lava the best. The black works nicely with a lot of wires and I love the way the rough rock looks when it's gussied up. Plus, it's fun to wear something that's a little out there.

To purchase my jewellery, head to Naomi's Designs or MayaGirl Creations.

Silver wire wrapped lava stone necklace with Swarovski crystal hearts

Most of the people who purchase my jewelry pieces live in different states or even another country. Because of that, I don't often get to actually see anyone wearing my jewelry -- other the friends to whom I've given pieces as gifts. But my friend Isabel has shared this selfie where she's wearing my silver wire wrapped lava stone necklace with Swarovski crystal hearts:

Here's a close-up of the necklace:

One of the advantages of being my friend (or disadvantage in some cases, I suppose) is that you'll eventually be given some of my handmade jewelry. I've made a bunch of pieces for my mom and designed a keychain for my dad. All of my female friends have been given various necklaces, earrings, bracelets, etc. I NEVER pressure my friends to purchase my work, but I have had a couple of friends buy from me. Still, I enjoy giving my work away to my loved ones. What better way to show that you care than to give a gift that was made with that person in mind?

I knew that Isabel would appreciate this necklace because she's an artist herself. She sings, plays several instruments, including piano, guitar and flute, paints and writes poetry. A few years ago, I played flute on her CD Isabel And The Whispers and she played guitar on my CD Flute Path. I don't think she's ever made jewelry, but she still understands the work that went into making this pendant.

Anyway, she makes a great model, don't you think? Seeing her with my piece has made me realize that I need to have more friends model my jewelry for me. This way, everyone can see how my pieces look "in motion" and on an actual person. I have plenty of jewelry projects in store for the new year, but I'll add this to my list!

To check out my jewellery, head to Naomi's Designs or MayaGirl Creations.

Wire wrapped lava, jade and lapis lazuli pendants

I've been on such a wire wrapping kick lately that I ended up making three more wire wrapped necklaces. For these, I used several different kinds of copper wrapped stones: one is lava, one is jade and one is lapis lazuli:

For the lava stone, I wanted to do something very different from my usual style. When making wire wrapped pendants, I tend to create swirling, spiraling designs, but in this case, I went for something modern and angular that works with the blue square crystal. Of course, I couldn't resist adding in one spiral! I think that it looks a bit as if I gift-wrapped the lava, no?

I went the opposite way with the jade and practically covered the stone with an intricate, ornate wrap that looks a little like lace. I added three small Swavorvski crystals in pink and blue-green.

The design on the blue lapis lazuli is a little like a frame as I worked the wrap along the edges of the stone. I added a couple of navy blue Swarovski crystal pearls as an accent. The design is almost symmetrical, but not quite, giving the piece a little "quirkiness."

Making wire wrapped jewelry is just so much fun, which I why I keep doing it! I'm planning to order some stones in colors I haven't yet used and am anxious to keep playing around.

To purchase my jewellery, head to Naomi's Designs. To purchase my children's jewelry, head to MayaGirl Creations. To purchase my novel, check out REVENGE OF A BAND GEEK GONE BAD.

Wire wrapped lava stone necklaces with Swarovski crystals

I made four new wire wrapped lava stone necklaces with Swarovski crystals. What's interesting about these pendants is that I took the same basic template -- a medium-sized, round, black volcanic rock -- but adorned each stone in a very different and unique way.

This pendant's filigree design was made with 20 gauge copper wire and garnet red Swarovski crystals. I went for a very fancy, intricate design here and the bright colors -- red and copper -- are very rich and regal. I like the way the "upscale" design plays against the rough, raw texture of the lava stone; somehow, they just work together.

This lava stone was wire wrapped with 20 gauge silver wire and pink and clear Swarovski crystals. For this necklace, I went with a much more minimalist and modern pattern that highlights the volcanic rock. I love the silver, pink, clear and black when placed together. It's just such a classic and pretty combination of colors.

I wire wrapped this pendant with 20 gauge silver, as well, but this rainbow design is very whimsical. I wanted the rainbow Swarovski crystals to be the centerpiece so they go right through the middle of the rock and the filigree pattern.

20 gauge gunmetal was used for the wire wrap in this final necklace. I created big, bold spirals and swirls for its pattern and went for a very organic and natural design. I thought about the way that lava flows and tried to emulate the swirling of it as it cascades down the sides of a volcano. I added green and pink Swarovski crystals, which look a bit like a little flower -- again very natural, Earthy colors.

So there you have it! Four necklaces made with the same basic materials: black lava stone, 20 gauge wire and Swarovski crystal bicones. But each has a very distinct look. I enjoy working with lava stone because it acts as a great canvas for wire wrapping -- and these are just a few samples of what can be done with a volcanic rock pendant.

To purchase my jewellery, head to Naomi's Designs. To purchase my children's jewelry, head to MayaGirl Creations. To purchase my novel, check out REVENGE OF A BAND GEEK GONE BAD.

Wire Wrapped Lava Stone Pendant With Blue Swarovski Crystals And Filigree Design

I call this silver wire wrapped lava stone pendant Dark Side Of The Moon. The way that the wire wrap turned out looks a little like craters to me, which is why I gave it this name.

Lately, I've been experimenting with more complicated wire wraps. I'm trying to do tighter, more detailed designs that take more planning out, and this is an example of one.

I wanted to do some layers on the wire wrap to give it texture, so I had to go back over the initial wrap and add some loops -- but getting them to be in the exact right position took a lot of maneuvering and adjusting. Still, I'm happy with how this came out. I like the little blue Swarovski crystals; they add an extra sparkly touch!

Formore of my jewelry, head to Naomi's Studio or Naomi's Designs.

Wire Wrapped Pendant -- Black Lava Stone With Pink Crystals And Silver Wire

This is another one of my wire wrapped lava stone necklaces. As I've said, I've love working with lava because it's like a "blank slate" that I can adorn. It's also smooth and easy to wrap.

I always try to do something different with each wrap, so for this I chose some small, round pink crystals. I like the way the pink looks with the silver and black -- very classic and elegant.

I finished it off with a leather cord. To be honest, I hadn't considered leather util a customer requested it in place of silk. But I think it suits the lava in terms of mixing textures.

I'm thinking of making some other lava pendants with mixed metal or color wire. It's fun to take one concept and then experiment with it.

To purchase my jewelry, head to Naomi's Designs on Etsy.

Wire wrapped lava stone

I first saw dried lava when I was in Hawaii about six years ago. I never knew that lava -- which is porous and black -- could be beautiful, but it really is, especially when there are large sheets of it.

When visiting Hawaii, however, you're not supposed to take pieces of lava home because it's bad luck. There are all sorts of stories about people getting cursed after bringing home lava. We didn't want to take a chance, so we left it alone!

Still, when I saw these round lava stones being sold, I was inspired to make something with them. Each one is like a blank canvas and I wanted to build pieces of jewelry that obviously looked like jewelry, but also brought out the beauty of the rock.

For this pendant, I went with a simple wire wrap design. I didn't want to completely cover the rock with wire, so I used it as a frame. I then added just two small crystals to finish it off. I feel like the black, silver and blue play well off of each other and work together in a finished product. I've been told that it looks like a Native American piece, which is a huge compliment.

I've been experimenting with other types of rocks, as well, but I still like lava the best. When "dressed up," it's especially eye-catching.

For more of my work, head to Naomi's Designs.